On older bikes they are usually tan or natural rubber color. A lot of people who ride long distances tilt the bars up slightly, move the brake levers up slightly, and then put hoods or bar tape on the base of the brake levers. That allows you to hold on to the side of the bars with your hands partly on the brake hoods. It is a comfortable alternate position and if you have reasonably large hands you can still reach the brake levers when needed.
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https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/q...fe-for-braking